Classic or Fluff
Isaiah 30:9-11 “That this is a rebellious people, lying children. Children who will
not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘do not see,’ and to the
prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy
deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside
from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.’”
I love reading the Christian Classics. Those men and women really had a revelation
and a walk with the Lord, more than what some of the modern authors have
today. They had spiritual depth: Tozer,
Spurgeon, Bounds, Murray, Kempis, Brother Lawrence, Guyon and many more. They may have had different doctrines, but
the one thing they had in common was an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. They stood the test, living a true
disciplined and crucified life yet with the joy of the Lord. They exalted the Lord Jesus Christ. While reading
them I always do so with repenting and desiring more of God. I come away challenged in my spirit.
Years ago, in our local Christian bookstore,
as I would walk in, I would immediately see the large case upfront with every
shelf filled with Christian Classics. I always
made a beeline to them first. As time
went on, the space that these Classics occupied became less and less till one
day I went in and they weren’t up front at all!
I looked all over for them and couldn’t find them. Finally, I went to the clerk and asked if
they had gotten rid of the Classics. She
said “No, they are in the back.” And she wasn’t kidding! There in the back of the major bookshelves,
facing the back, there was about 2 shelves of Classics. As time went on, it dwindled down to one
shelf, then half a shelf. The entire
rest of the “Christian” book store was filled with “Christian” fiction,
psychology, theology, do it yourself spirituality and replacing the upfront
Classics were the “new” arrivals- the “latest” in Christian reading- some well
known TV star or athlete or any kind of popular personality with their latest
tout on religion and their experience. Now
I don’t mean to mock anyone’s experience with Christ- but it’s my opinion that
most of these books are what I call “Fluff”.
They do nothing for me as far as drawing me closer to the Lord. They are a good read- sure. They tell of their “experience”- yes. But as far as exalting Christ or challenging
someone to go deeper with the Lord- no.
Let’s switch over to the Church. There is a line that is getting broader and
more distinct in these days- the line between the Classic Christian- the one
who is hungry and thirsty for righteousness, the one whose only desire is for more
of the Lord, the one who covets a life of discipline and communion with the
Lord- and- the Fluff Christians- just want the good life. They are secular, carnal, ruled by their emotions
and not by the Spirit. They compromise
between the Word of God and modern theology and psychology and may I say—New Age. They have no hunger or thirst for more of the
Lord. Their goal is to get by with as
little of Christ as possible, just enough to get them into heaven.
News flash: God didn’t save us just to have a good comfortable
life. He saved us to be part of His
Bride- the Church- to show forth His glory.
The Classic Christian will go through trials and adversities with the understanding
that the Lord is going to take them through to the other side. They don't whine and complain about how hard their life is. They just keep moving forward in the Lord. Many Christians just want to be fluffed like
a pillow. But let a good puff of wind come and they will be blown off their comfy couch because they
have no substance, no anchor, no communion with the One who saved them in the
first place. They just want to be comfortable.
The world has tried to push the Church to
the back shelf. Prayer is replaced with testimonials
and stories. Scriptural preaching and
teaching are replaced with programs, entertainment and personalities. True worship has been replaced with
sensuality, loud music and modern dance. Verse 10 of Isaiah 30- in the
Message states: “Tell us what makes us
feel better. Don’t bore us with obsolete
religion. That stuff means nothing to
us. Quit hounding us with the Holy of
Israel.” Quit hounding us with the Holy of Israel??? Seriously?
But that is just what is happening in the Church
today. It is no wonder that our nation
has fallen into unholiness and immorality because much of the Church has done
the same. We don’t want to hear about
holiness today. We don’t like to feel uncomfortable. We want to feel “loved” and patted on the
back, having our pillows fluffed.
It is time- way past time- for the Church to
come out from the back shelf- and back up front, on display in front of an evil
and unholy generation. Ephesians 3:10 (ESV) "so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." When the world sees the Church it should see rows and rows of Classic Christians- those who have gone through the fire and stood the test. (Rev. 7:14). It should see a holy priesthood standing in the gap. It should see the Body of Christ who has committed itself to holiness and purity. The Church should
be setting the standard for the rest of the world. It's time to manifest the glory of God, take back the front shelves and be on display to the world!
(This
post may seem a little lengthy, but just consider it coming from an old
Classic that has served the Lord too long now to fluff up my testimony.)
Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is
risen upon you.”
Isaiah 42:13- “The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal
like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against
His enemies.”
Joel 3:16 “The Lord will roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the
heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
and the strength of the children of Israel.”
~ Donna 6/4/2019
~ Donna 6/4/2019
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